it, even in such cases, when the consent of the
church cannot be had to the execution of this discipline, faithful pastors
and professors must, every one for his own part, take heed that he have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but even reprove them;
yea, they ought, _in. sensu negativo_, excommunicate those who should be
(but are not) excommunicate positively, which negative excommunication is
not an ecclesiastical censure, but either a bare punishment, or a cautel
and animadversion; and so saith the Archbishop of Spalato,(1106) not only
one brother may refuse to communicate with another, but a people, also,
may refuse to communicate with their pastor, which he confirmeth by
certain examples. But the public censure of positive excommunication
should not be inflicted without the church's consent, for the reasons
foresaid. Cyprian writeth to Cornelius, bishop of Rome, that he had much
laboured with the people that peace might be given to them who had fallen;
that is, that they might be again received into the communion of the
church; which, if he might have done by himself, why did he labour and
deal so much with the people in that business? And as they were not
received into the church's communion without the people's consent, so
neither were they without their consent excommunicate. Chrysostom
showeth,(1107) concerning his time, that when one was to be excommunicate,
the whole church was humbled in prayer to God for him; and, when he was
again released, they did all kindly salute him, and wish him peace.
Tertullian also writeth,(1108) that he who was to be excommunicate in the
public assembly of the church, was, by the common consent of all, stricken
with judgment, and that all the approven and well-liked elders had the
precedence or direction of the rest of the church in these matters.

Now, from all this which hath been said of the power and authority to
excommunicate and absolve, it is manifest how unjustly usurping prelates
do arrogate and appropriate to themselves this power, which Christ hath
committed to every particular church or congregation, and ordained to be
execute by the ecclesiastical consistory within the same. Which episcopal
usurpation, as it hath been showed to be most contrary to divine
institution, so doth it also depart from the manner of the ancient church:
for it may be seen, in Cyprian,(1109) that the authority of reconciling
and receiving into the church such as had fallen, w